Imagine this: "Dad, I know I’ve been a big pain lately, but I thought about it a lot and I think I know what I want for my Sweet Sixteen. Forget about your wrecked Pontiac, I’ll just ride a bike to school. Here’s what I really want: a ticket to Germany and the all-inclusive package for this tank school they have."
Because of us and perhaps a couple of other tank enthusiasts out there, your kid may actually say that one day. No, we are not running this place - we wish we were - but if you are one of our regular autoevolution guests, then we're sure you'll like this one.
So here’s what we know: Eastern Germany is not just the home of the national capital and city-state Berlin, it’s also the home of the Brandenburg federal state, and that is where you’ll find one of the greatest playgrounds for adults we’ve ever heard of. As far as we can tell, it’s a big open area with all the off-road obstacles you can dream of. Instead of 4x4 trucks, however, you get to play with tanks.
Two of the decommissioned war machines they have at their disposal are a T55 tank and a BMP amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. The first is a 34-ton beast that is powered by a 12-cylinder V-engine producing 600 horsepower. Inside there’s room for a crew of three, but up to eight people can have a seat in the roof-garden as well. This bad boy is big but won't go faster than 60 km/h (37 mph).
The second tracked monster is a bit smaller, weighing in at 14 tons, but it still has a 6-cylinder diesel engine that produces 300 horsepower. As a matter of fact, this one could suit the taste of speed enthusiasts since it’s capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h (49 mph). Whichever you choose, about 35 minutes of fun will cost you EUR145 ($165 at the current exchange rate) per tank, plus an extra EUR10 ($11.5) for each "passenger."
And here’s the best part: not only do they offer vouchers you can surprise your best friend with but they also have premium packages that include both accommodation and a car-crashing option. Yes, for an extra EUR260 ($297 at the current exchange rate), you can literally crush a car with the tank. If you don’t believe us, just check the video and photo gallery below and decide for yourself.
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